farawayplace | [mingle post] Extreme summer weather

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?

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Oh... of course! 'Cause, we lose salt in sweat, right?

[He remembered something like that! Plus, he always tasted salty if he's been out all day in the sun, until he gets a bath...

Well, that worked, Gold, as Trip's now reaching for some peanuts to eat.]

Did you know some people are allergic to peanuts? Like, if they get even a little dust from the... outside of the peanut, like, maybe someone else was eating peanuts or it was just left on a table or something, they could get really sick and have to go to the hospital pronto!

They are?

[That's actually news to Gold. He's never heard of that before! ...He's a little bit nervous now, glancing at Trip taking the peanuts.]

Is that why there's warnings on packages that something might contain peanuts? I didn't know. You okay with them? Do I need to go buy chips instead?

Yup! Don't worry, I eat peanut butter, so I can eat peanuts. I eat it all the time in Unova... [He's happily enjoying his peanuts without incident!]

Uh-huh! There's warnings on restaurants where they give everyone free peanuts too.

I just couldn't bring any peanut butter sandwiches to kindergarten because one of the kids wss allergic...

Oh, good.

[Well, Trip's a smart kid, he wouldn't eat peanuts if he knew he was allergic! Gold relaxes and enjoys his ice cream.]

Huh, that explains a lot. I never went to kindergarten so I didn't know.

... did you never go to school, Gold?

[He wasn't sure whether to envy him for having so much free time or feel bad for him because he missed out on so much learning!!

Gold had a rough time of things, so it probably wasn't fun...

Trip frowned and stood up, keeping the hand he was eating with closed and away, so he won't get peanut dust all over Gold, and tried to give him a hug.]

Nope! Never. Learned to read on my own!

[Gold doesn't consider it a sad thing, so he's a little surprised when Trip comes over for a one-handed hug. He'll return it, also one-handed as he's holding his popsicle out of the way. He pats Trip's back gently and smiles.]

...Thanks, buddy. I'm fine.

... it's amazing, though, that you went and learned to read by yourself!

[Trip will settle back down, to have another peanut and then carefully pick up his popsicle to keep eating.]
Now, you can teach yourself other stuff too! Or even go to school. Did you ever want to? I'm sure you can here...

Amazing? Huh.

[He feels like he learned to read pretty easily, but it's been years so he doesn't remember the process that well.

On the question of going to school, Gold pauses, looking serious. As serious as he can, while licking his popsicle to make sure it doesn't drip on his hand.]

...I don't really wanna go to school, not here. Maybe when I go back home, but I kinda feel like...

[Like going to school in Ultern would mean accepting never going home. ...Gold shrugs, going for a casual feel again.]

Eh, I just feel like if I go to school I'd want it to be back home. I'm learning plenty of stuff here anyway, so it's no big deal.

O-oh... so, you wanna save it for when you're home?

[Trip frowned, considering that thought. Maybe it felt more special that way? Or more permanent... maybe he'd miss the school too much? Like those kids on TV or in stories who have lots of friends.]

... do you think you'll forget about Ultern? When you go back home, I mean...

[There's a sad, nervous little tremor in his voice.]

Yep, something like that.

[It's not something like that, but going along with it keeps Gold from having to explain. He doesn't want to say what he's thinking about out loud. He'll also gladly take the seeming change of subject.]

Forget? Hmm... Probably not? Haven't heard of anybody forgetting. Why?

[Is that something Trip's been worried about? Gold hasn't considered the idea, really, expecially after the older Trip briefly returned and remembered. But the idea of forgetting... It'd be sad, but Gold wonders if it wouldn't be easier, not remembering anything from here.]

That's good... [A little relieved smile.] I was sc—... worried. I don't wanna be forgotten, when you go back home and make other friends.

[Trip didn't really have any close friends, at this age, so he really liked Gold and he really liked Alder. He cherished his memories and promises dearly!]

[...Definitely not going to voice the thought of "Maybe it'd be nice to forget" then. Even if Gold's kind of dreading having to miss so many people he might never meet again when he goes home. But if this is something Trip's scared of, Gold will reassure him.]

I don't make friends easily. You're one of my first friends ever, so making other friends won't make me forget about you.

[Stated with absolute certainty, because it's true. (And vague enough that even if his memories end up getting erased by drifting back home, the statement is still true!)]

[That did reassure Trip! He smiled, looking more at ease now.]

Thank you, Gold... [Very softly as he watched him contentedly, head tilted to a side.]

You're one of my first ever friends too.

[There were people Trip exchanged a few words with or played with once or twice at school, he'd be inclined to think of them as friends, but no one he spent time with nearly every day or who went with him anywhere else by choice, not by mere circumstance throwing them together... but Trip was still young enough not to tell the difference.

He did, however, recognize that being with Gold was different, so he thought of him as a best friend! Only he felt too shy to say it.

Maybe he could make him a gift to thank him for all his kindness...

He finished his popsicle, feeling more energetic now, eyes brightening and kicking his legs a bit.]

[mingle post] Extreme summer weather

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[that might be one of the saddest things he ever heard]

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