[mingle post] Extreme summer weather

[kenfrompokemon]

A. HEAT WAVE

It's a hot day in Ultern. The kind of day where you just can't muster the energy for anything. The kind of day where you feel like you could fry an egg on a car hood. On the radio, the usual DJ's voice reminds you to drink plenty of water, wear a hat and use sun screen, and to make sure your Pokemon are protected from the heat as well.

How are you spending a day like this? Eating ice cream or shaved ice? Resting in the shade? Taking advantage of the Pokemon Center's cooling system? Are you the type who trains outside no matter the weather? Or are you one of those poor souls who have to work outside in the blazing sun?

B. NATURE POWER

On another day, there's a sudden rainstorm. Water droplets attack the roofs in a loud barrage, wind howls, and you can hear the distant roars of thunder. It was hot just earlier, what happened? On this day, even the local radio station broadcasts nothing but static.

What are you doing on this stormy day? Caught by surprise while travelling? Staying inside and shutting all windows tightly? Listening to the rain with a cup of hot chocolate, or going out to enjoy the blasts of rain and wind on your skin? Taking shelter in the Pokemon Center, or knocking on the door of the closest house you can find to escape the rain? Exploring caves? Helping wild Pokemon deal with the weather?

Or maybe something completely different?

Comments

B. Adanook Town

[kenfrompokemon]

[Since his workplace is suffering from equipment failure, Ken's free to go home for the day. And so, he's now standing outside the radio station, taking cover under the awning, and watching the rain in hopes of a calmer moment so he could run home without getting too drenched.

...It doesn't look like that's happening any time soon. Even standing here isn't keeping him totally dry. He sighs, leaning against the wall and rubbing his arms.]

I should've brought my umbrella today... Or even a jacket.

Re: B. Adanook Town

[chloeandeevee]

[Chloe is also running for cover, a light sweater over her head to try to protect herself and Eevee. Seeing the awning, she hurries over to it.]

Hi. Is the radio station not open?

[She had hoped they could wait out the rain in there.]

[kenfrompokemon]

Oh, hello!

[Radio DJ instincts on, Ken automatically smiles when he's greeted.]

Ah, they're doing some repairs! The storm knocked over something, so... yeah, to sum it up, the whole station's closed today.

[chloeandeevee]

Oh....

[Chloe frowns, pondering on this. It's raining pretty hard, so she really doesn't want to be running around in it.]

May we wait here with you until the rain stops, or at least slows down?

[Eevee peeks up from under the sweater. "Eevee-vee!"]

[kenfrompokemon]

Of course! It's not like I own the place. I'm waiting for the same thing myself!

[Eevee suddenly popping up has him gasping in delight, then smiling.]

Hi there, little buddy!

[tossing in a Pokemon~]

[buson]

[He's not the only one taking shelter here! A slow, clumsy tanuki-like Pokemon sheltered there... not a lean, little Zigzagoon, but a slightly more familiar rounder, heftier Pokemon! The brown Pokemon with the long, striped tail and an always burning bundle of firewood strapped to its back backed away after bumping into Ken, flinching, then looking very, very sorry... it even bowed profusely, even if he might not make sense of its stream of apologies!]

[kenfrompokemon]

[Getting bumped into makes Ken flinch in surprise, and he quickly looks down. Oh, a Clackoon!

It's fine, little one, I'm not bothered at all. [Ken sits down cross-legged to look less intimidating.] This weather must be awful for you. Are you all alone out here?

[Clackoon aren't common around here after all. He glances around for a trainer. Maybe this is Buson's Clackoon? Oh, that's silly. Buson's hardly the only trainer with a Clackoon out there.]

[buson]

[Clackoon nodded, starting to look a little less intimidated, uncurling from the timid ball he'd formed. He nodded at Ken's question, barking.]

Kooon!
[He still held his forepaws very close to his chest, was he hurt? Hiding something?]

B. [Turnbloom City]

[unchcsen]

[Volo is just...standing in the street near the Pokemon Center. He is clearly aware of the storm: he's looking up, watching the lightning, like he's trying to figure out where it's coming from and where it may strike next.

Togekiss is hovering over his head with her wings outstretched, like she's trying to keep her trainer dry - but with this kind of rain, there's not much point. It looks like she'd rather be inside, instead of getting drenched and fighting with the wind, but Volo is too fascinated by the weather.

If anyone gets close enough, they might hear him muttering to himself.]

I wonder if this is just a storm, or...? It was just like this, the night when it all began. Such a terrible storm...and yet, I see no rift...

[gold_drum]

[Gold is struggling with an umbrella that really wants to fly off in the rain when he spots that one tall time traveller guy... Uh, what was his name again? It was something short, but he just can't remember... More importantly, he's got a hovering cover! Gold folds his umbrella and runs for him.]

Hey man! [That's the only warning Volo gets as Gold dives in to hide from the rain under the Togekiss with him.] Long time no see! Whatcha doing, thinking about ominous foreboding stuff in the rain?

[unchcsen]

[Volo hardly notices that he's got company until Gold says something, and when he realises, he doesn't seem embarrassed at being caught muttering.]

Hello!

[Once he sees who it is, he smiles in recognition.]

Yes, it's nice to see you again! Always good to see a familiar face, isn't it?

[With those formalities out of the way, Volo goes back to watching the lightning.]

Yes, indeed, I was just thinking about some...things! Does Ultern often get storms like this, do you know...? Is it normal for this time of year? I come from a place where big storms were not that common, you see...

[gold_drum]

[Talking to yourself is just one of those normal things everyone does, as far as Gold's concerned!]

Yeah! Hi!

[Small talk and formalities are whatever, watching the lightning is more interesting, so Gold does that too.]

I guess so! It's stormier here than back where I'm from, anyway. There's tropical storms or something. Hey, you gonna be okay standing here? You're tall so you might get hit by lightning. And then Thundurus steals your belly button or something, I dunno.

[Gold's pretty sure that's what he's heard about lightning.]

A - Heat Wave

[lovelycharming]

[James is absolutely not dealing with the heat well at all by whining pitifully, after he'd lost a temporary job selling ice cream by... er, helping himself to too much of the ice cream.

He turned in a good profit, until he got too uncomfortably hot and hungry, and, well, he cost the ice cream seller far, far more than he helped earn!]

[gold_drum]

[This kid's been watching James work with amusement for a while while wearing an old traditional Johto-style straw hat to cover him from the sun, and eating shaved ice with different syrups. After James gets fired, he calls out to him.]

You suck at stealing! Keep it on the down-low next time, idiot!

[lovelycharming]

H-how dare you?! [Face flushing red with fury, hands balled into fists, and voice jumping an octave.] I'll have you know I'm a professional, you... you rude, little, street urchin, you!

[gold_drum]

[Completely unbothered by the rage, Gold takes another bite of shaved ice as James talks.]

Wow, really? If you're a professional, it's gotta be easy to be one. Maybe I should be one too.

[aggrocket]

Oh. So you’re not dead yet.

[Yes, that’s how he greets the other James when he encounters him sitting and moping in the hot sun shortly after getting fired. He says it like it was a quaint and unexpected surprise.]

[lovelycharming]

Yes...? Did you expect me to be so spineless as to not survive alone a month or two? [He sounded half-hurt, but mostly offended. He might have been playing up the hurt!]

I've been on my own since I was 8, I'll have you know.

[... he was never very good at surviving on his own and that was why he fell in with gangs more than once, but...]

[aggrocket]

[James simply shrugs, giving his counterpart an annoying little smirk.]

It was sort of a toss up. Pleased to be wrong for once.

[Was that his tsundere-ass way of saying “it’s good to see you again”? His eyebrows raise slightly at the mention of the 8 years old thing. ]

So you’re a runaway, then? Guess that tracks.

A. [just when I thought I wouldn't be bringing Bashou back - an idea...probably illegal...]

[bashou]

[On the main road near the beach, Bashou is sitting in a folding chair, underneath a large parasol. He's wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat and oversized sunglasses, with a hand-held electric fan blowing in his face. He's not showing much skin, but what little you can see is slathered in a thick layer of sunscreen.

Speaking of which, there's an open ice box next to him, plugged into a humming generator. But instead of drinks, it's full of bottles of sunscreen. With a handwritten paper sign, which says 'ice cold sunscreen'. The price tag is nearly double what the shops are charging. But...they look like the regular bottles. The only difference is that they're in an ice box. And if you were to pick one up and shake it, it feels a bit...watery?

Bashou isn't being a pushy salesman, he's just sitting back and sipping ice water, like he doesn't really care. He'll only speak if someone picks up a sunscreen bottle and starts looking too closely.]

Hello. I'm afraid this is not a 'try before you buy' situation. It's sunscreen. We need it in this weather, yes?

[Set after B!] Clackoon's Second (Technically) Errand

[buson]

[Sometime after the storm, when Ultern's back to its sunnier norm (but not as incredibly hot as before!), Buson's Clackoon will be out on his own again. This time, he held the note in only one paw (almost like a tanuki statue's promissory note... he'd have given him his straw hat too, but Clackoon's liable to accidentally burn it!), the other carrying a simple, buttoned wallet, easy enough for a child or Pokemon to use.

He looked terribly focused on something!

The note, if anyone should read it:

"Ulsai! Ippee nifee debiru!

Clackoon did well on his first errand, so this time, he's handling actual money. He needs to go out, buy two of something cold and sweet to eat, and come back home.

Feel free to help him with directions if he gets lost, but he's got to make the purchase on his own.

If you find him far from Chura (again), call this number: [—one of Buson's numbers here—]

Treat him kindly! or else.
Thanks for your patience and support! -B"

The threat's scratched out, but might still be possible to make out. The handwriting overall is large and bold, and seemed to practically shout!]

A [... I apparently did not send this after asking if Banyan had A.C.]

[serperiority]

[Although Trip usually didn't mind the heat, it was definitely more hotter here than it was back in Unova! It was awfully humid outside. He couldn't even wear his favourite hoodie! Well, not unless they turned the A.C. up until it was freezing, but that might make people sick...

He was not going outside, just staying inside, where the air conditioner was.

He didn't feel like doing anything, but the longer he stayed lying down, the more he felt like he was melting, like the witch in that movie...

Just to make sure he hadn't really melted into a Ditto-like puddle, he did sit up on occasion.]

... I miss Casteliacones...

[gold_drum]

[Gold is, apparently, the type of person who's annoyingly good with hot weather. Trip can hear the front door open, followed by an energetic voice.]

I'm ba~ck! Whew, it's hot out!

[Gold, having ditched his hoodie for a tank top and his shoes for sandals, enters the living room while humming and drops his backbag on the table.]

Hiya, Trip! I brought goodies!

[Saying that, he unzips the backbag. What could be in there...!]

[serperiority]

[Even if he was lethargic from heat, he was always happy to hear Gold's voice! His best friend!

Trip quickly got up to his feet and hurried over.]

Really?! What's inside? [High, squeaky voice, cheeks colouring nearly as much as they would've if he had gone outside!]

[gold_drum]

[You need some more friends, kiddo. Gold grins and sets on the table... a bag of salted peanuts, a pack of sports drinks, and a box of popsicles, all still cold from Gold's mysterious bag that keeps food fresh forever through game mechanics!]

Ta-dahh! I call it the Steamy Day Survival Set!

[He was thinking up a name with alliteration the whole walk here. He's very proud of his invention!]