Alrighty, so I was asked as to what makes Volkner himself? Why does he even battle, or remain a gym leader for example? What sort of things drive him to get up every day?
The first is obvious. He wants to better his city, and the eventual world through technology. Volkner focuses on clean, renewable energy. He loves wind energy, solar energy, even water energy where applicable. These are his things that he is currently trying to expand outwards into other regions. Heâs set up Sunyshore to support its people, but Sunyshore is of course only one city. If the world can benefit from his technology, heâs gonna try to help others out.
His second is sheer desire. A lot of what Volkner does, he does because he wants to, when he wants to. If he wants to battle, he will pick who he accepts challenges from carefully. If he wants to be mischievous, he will cause minor havoc for fun. If he wants to flirt, he will. Itâs a lot of whatever heâs feeling he does. He damn near runs off any time he sees a machine, regardless of its uses or its inventor because heâs just interested in it. And likewise, if he doesnât have any interest in doing something, heâll shut down and sleep most likely.
Finally, in regards to battling, he doesnât really do that anymore compared to what others think. He already rarely gets defeated using his gym team, and while heâs extremely powerful, never really gets a rush. Thereâs so few pokemon trainers that are able to consistently match him, that he so rarely gets a challenge. His motivations now lean towards tutoring and teaching fellow trainers, as he finds this more fulfilling. Though if an extremely credible trainer comes his way, of course heâll always get fired up.
This is also partially why heâs a gym leader rather than an Elite Four member. Volkner wants to just talk to others, interact with real human beings. The battling, in essence, is secondary to him. Volkner doesnât have a high capacity social battery, but he does care for the everyday person. Being cooped up in the League means he isnât going to see the world as often, or work on developing his tech, or even teaching younger trainers. Being a gym leader, and though he doesnât really operate his gym challenge... Properly? (handing out badges every now and then, yâall?)... Helpshim stay connected with the real world and people around him. What motivates him most lately is that drive to connect with others, teach and be taught, see new things, develop new technology.
Just yâknow, if you ask him for a battle and heâs a little less than 1000% gung-ho and hyped over it, just know that thatâs the reason why. Battles in itself are secondary in his life.