"Follow the rules. Safe driving! Follow the schedule. Everybody smile! Check safety. Everything's ready! Aim for victory! All aboard!" [ associated with Wildencounters ]
“Miss… Champion,” she swirls the title against the tip of her tongue, a pleased look gracing her blushing features. “I kinda like the sound of that!”
She takes another small swig, her mind’s eye twinkling between the dots that she’s connecting. One by one, it’s beginning to make sense. “I thought you looked familiar, I was over here wracking my brain for where I coulda seen you…” Dawn takes another good look at him: his bright grey eyes, chiseled jawline, sharp sideburns. How hadn’t she pieced it all together prior? Had she really been that oblivious, that sidetracked?
There’s truly no telling with this one.
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Her reaction tickles him pink, and Emmet chuckles, resting his chin atop his palm. Well, she hit the nail right on the head with that assumption. Now don’t get him wrong. He loves his job; it’s his life and blood at this point, a project brought to life with his twin. Still, he’d be lying if it’s all smooth sailings. There’s always going to be that one difficult Trainer or passenger that would demand to see the upper management, which means either that either he or Iggy would have to address them with a customer service like smile.
“Well, you’re right on that front, lass,” he finally says, sighing into his palm. He’s off work, at the bar talking with a pleasant stranger rapidly turn acquaintance. Emmet thinks he can cut loose and be a little more... open with his thoughts. “Even though we’ve been established for years now, with a set of rules that’s plastered on our homepage and the board before you enter the train, there’s still Trainers who use forbidden moves on the subway. Like, Explosion is off limits for a reason!”
Having said his piece, Emmet sighs again, shoulders slumping as the brief flare of indignation peters out. Well, she doesn’t seem like the type who judges; she even sympathized with him earlier! She’s real easy to get along, especially with a drink in his system. Emmet grins, raising his similarly near empty glass in response. “Here, here.”
Swigging the last of his whiskey, Emmet tips his head towards Dean. “Mind giving me a refill?” His grey eyes flicker to Dawn, still grinning. “And get her whatever she wants. Second round’s on me.” This will also be his last, as Emmet is not a huge drinker in the first place. He’s got height but pretty lanky, not to mention he’s got an afternoon shift to come in tomorrow. Iggy wouldn’t like it if he came in late because he got one hell of a hangover.
The Subway Boss gives her a cheeky wink. “You’re in my stomping grounds so ‘course I gotta treat ya. It’s for being real nice to talk to. Been awhile since I’ve last had a companion to drink with!” Emmet swipes back his bangs. “Say, if ya don’t mind me asking, ya got any stories from Sinnoh that ya can share? I rarely get to leave the region so it’s always nice to hear what other places has to offer.”
“Ah, I do enjoy throwing a twist in here and there.” Her tiny grin, lips glistening with her signature gloss, curls upwards a bit. There’s mischievousness in her casual glances, one that fights back all her urges to spoil anything. She’s pleased to hear, that the other Subway Master is apparently a reader of her work. The Unova crowd had always been the most fickle, when it comes to critiquing Shauntal’s work; overseas, an entirely different story, with fans that get so hyped over her appearances that security has had to beef itself up in order to combat the fangirls and (more so often) fanboys galore.
She supposes it just comes with the territory.
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Shauntal’s explanation certainly makes sense to him. Emmet rarely ventures out of Unova, so he can understand the allure of gaining knowledge from different regions. He pauses in his skimming, shooting a surprised look at the author that so graciously gifted him this particular copy. Not one to turn down gifts no matter how spontaneous it is -- unless it’s proven to be dangerous. Now that’s a particular memory he wishes not to indulge in -- Emmet beams.
“Thank you so much for this! I’ll be sure to enjoy this thoroughly, then pull Iggy into it.” If there’s an opportunity soon, he wishes to return her kindness. Emmet carefully stores the book away in his pack, mindful of its position among his other possessions. He’ll make sure to care for this book like it’s a precious treasure! Iggy will certainly be surprise on how he came to acquire this novel!
Her question gives him pause. Hm, Emmet hasn’t necessarily formulate what he wants to do after he collects the info he needs. He sort of figured to just wing it; see where the winds take him and what his heart desires until he has to return back home. Though, it feels kind of weird to give Shauntal that answer. He hums, tapping his cheek in thought.
“Well... I suppose I’d like to check out the local food scene.” Emmet grins at her, swinging his long legs. “They always say that one way to get to know about a place is through their cuisine! Nimbasa isn’t short on variety when it comes to food, but there’s just something about eating at the source that gives it a different experience, if you get what I mean.”
Of course, he’ll have to pick up some souvenirs for his staff back home. Emmet heard that Johto is famous for these small sweet buns and Rage Candy bars. Those could make for some good gifts if he can find some on sale. “If I have the time, I want to check out Ecruteak City. It has a lot of historical value, and I’d like to snap some photos for Iggy to see! He likes learning about myths and legends, which Ecruteak should be packed of. And I guess I’d like to go to the Pokeathlon Dome. I don’t know if just anyone can join it, but the Pokeathlon sounds fun! I’d like to think that some of my Pokemon is competitively viable for the events.”
She had snowflakes in her hair, flecks melting on her face.
The silence, the falling snow, her breath misting in the air. The wintry chill.
In spite of the cold, in spite of her hating the cold, it was oddly pleasant.
The quiet reverie was broken at the sound of crunching in the snow.
Footsteps?
Who was walking around at this time of night?
Eyes snapping open, she looked about in alarm.
What surprised her even more was that she knew this particular figure walking towards her.
That tall stature, the ivory uniform, silver locks under a conductor’s hat, his eyes wide in concern — Emmet.
A memory flashed in the back of her mind.
The rumbling underfoot of the rushing subway train, a fierce, fun battle and wide, exhilarated grins.
She watched as recognition flickered in his own eyes at the sight of her.
“… Touko? Is that really you…?”
Her heart hammered in her chest.
A voice in the back of her head whispering that she had been caught. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to leave. She wasn’t supposed to be noticed, she was supposed to disappear.
How could she escape now?
Despite all of the thoughts spiraling in her head, the sight of Emmet caused a certain kind of warmth. She knew Emmet, she had memories with Emmet.
How long had it been since she saw someone from home?
She managed her wide, Touko-like grin and gave a wave of her hand as she stood up.
“Hey, Emmet! Long time no see, huh?” she greeted.
A wave of dizziness took over her from her action. She blinked as she stumbled back, allowing herself to sit back down.
“So, how have you been?”
Memories that had laid dormant came rushing back, eager to paint his mind with what transpired years ago. Emmet recalls of a fierce battle within the train, his skills pushed to the absolute limit before it ends in his defeat. Despite that, he felt nothing but satisfaction at one of the best battles he had in a long time. Seeing her again should make him feel happy, yet under the artificial light, he can tell that something seems... off.
Touko smiles in that familiar sort of way, lips stretched and eyes twinkling. She could have fooled him, had it not been for the way she stumbles back, opting to sit down before she falls down. Still, she continues on in this peppy sort of tone. He’s suddenly reminded that it’s late at night, snow flakes falling around them, the chill of Winter oppressively present.
Being pulled in by a regular greeting like that feels a little off kilter. Emmet’s brows furrow slightly, cocking his head in that telltale sign that he’s carefully considering on his words. “I’ve been doing well. Iggy and I have been busy with challenges, even though it’s close to the holiday season. I guess people still have an itch for battles...”
He trails off, his grey eyes flashing with concern. Touko... didn’t look too good. Maybe it’s his tired eyes tricking him, but his gut feeling is telling him that he shouldn’t leave her alone. Emmet hadn’t seen her in years so finding her in this setting is a little disconcerting. A puff of white breath escapes him, and he speaks again, this time with some weight to his tone.
“I’m sorry if this is out of nowhere but are you alright Touko?” Emmet squeezes his right hand, the material squelching underneath his grip. “I... it’s late at night in the middle of Winter and if I’m being honest? You don’t look too good. Where are you staying for the night? Let me escort you back there and maybe we can catch up tomorrow if you’d like...?”
Settling beside the taller gentleman, she gratefully indulges him with the reasons behind her visit. Across the way, a gaggle of curious young trainers stare in amazement; perhaps the Unovans are that recognizable, after all? “Well, League matters have been…” she searches for an appropriate word, although there’s really no other way of putting it. “….slow.”
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Her voice is soft and pleasant, reflective of the personality that he hears from those Unovan entertainment shows. Shauntal may be a Ghost-type expert, yet she’s far from the typical stereotypes associated with them. Emmet settles in his seat, listening attentively with a curious gleam to his eyes. Ah, so like him, she’s here on a work related business.
She procures a book from her satchel and hands it to him. Ruin Maniac’s Dilemma is emblazoned on the cover, with the simple background leaving an imprint from first glance. Those eyes leaves plenty to the imagination for sure. Emmet flips through a couple of pages, appreciative to see an index that shows the title chapters and other necessary information. It’s a little feature to books that’s becoming less common, judging from his own read through of Ingo’s collection.
“A murder mystery, eh?” Emmet pauses on the first page to skim through it. “These kinds of genre is certainly popular. Iggy loves reading it cause he likes to figure out who’s the culprit as he goes through the plot.” A brief round of chuckles. “Sometimes he pulls me into the discussions, so I have to read it for myself so I can understand what he’s talking about. It’s really fun cause things can either go what you think or there’s just a plot twist that could go either way.”
He’s not fond of authors who uses plot twists for the sake of shock rather than being an integral part of the story. Emmet believes that Shauntal isn’t in the same vein as them cause Iggy enjoys her novels. If a piece of reading material gets his twin’s approval, personal preference notwithstanding, it must be good! He gives it another skim through.
“Well, that’s the only way I was able to go all the way out here. Of course I’ll collect info, but who says I can’t have a bit of fun here?” Emmet flashes her one of his wide toothy grins. Then he glances at the novel in hand. “If you don’t mind me asking, what gave you the inspiration for the setting? Kanto and Johto are pretty far from Unova, if you ask me.”
The shared sentiments bring a small chuckle from within Dawn’s gut, her cheeks a flush of pink. “You’re telling me!” Gently, she takes another small sip, reclining in her seat slightly, her posture somewhat slouched. Oh, if only her mother could see her now—back hunched, in a pub of all places! Johanna would have a conniption on the spot. “Those kinds of clubs never do much for me; I guess I’m just a bore, huh?”
Without giving the other man much room to wiggle, she meets his eye. “I know what you’re thinking,” she rouses, another small sip down the hatch. “’What’s she doing here?’ or, ‘why’s this little girl drinking?’, right? Right?” Dawn chuckles again, a elongated sigh following as she props her chin upon her hands. The twinkling bar signs blink in unison with each other, the mirrored ceiling reflecting the light in a sort of visual smorgasbord. Dawn finds herself lost in the lights, every now and again. Nimbasa will do that to you.
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“Naw,” he drawls, grinning lopsidedly. “Just means that you’ve got good tastes. I can’t imagine how you can even relax when the bar is playing loud, ear deafening music. Also means Dean’s Bar is an awesome place for folks like us.” Here, Emmet raises a glass towards Dean, flashing the man an appreciative smile alongside a tip of his head. The bartender chuckles softly before he attends to another customer.
Well, Emmet did have that thought, but he figured she had her own reasons. Didn’t expect her to just go off like that, though he admits that is’ quite nice to see someone so spirited. If there’s one thing that he likes about drinking, it’s the sort of company you might meet at the counter. And it seems that tonight, he figuratively strikes gold when she closes the distance and reveals her identity.
“Well well, guess I’m in the presence of a celebrity, eh?” Emmet says in good nature, raising his glass to tap against hers. The clink is satisfying, and he takes another sip before continuing. “You know, I thought that ya look familiar. Apologies for not recognizing, but I swear I’ve seen your face before on TV. Maybe from an interview? Didn’t think you were that young either, and I mean that as a compliment. You’re like... larger than life, kind of.”
In the face of pleasant company and the mild buzz kicking in, Emmet feels chatty. “I guess it’s like, you could’ve just sat anywhere you want and talk with whoever you want, but here I am talking with you. And when I hear you talk, it’s like, wow, she’s got a lot of life to her, if that makes sense? Guess what i’m trying to say is that I’m having fun talking with you.”
He beams at her, grey eyes twinkling. “So yeah, nice to properly be acquainted with you, Miss... Champion! The name’s Emmet, one of the Subway Bosses at Gear Station!”
“Uh huh… y-yes, yes I know… absolutely… OK, thank you…”
Hanging up her communication device, Shauntal glances out of the bullet train’s window. A heavy sigh leaves her petite frame, a look of anxiety riddling upon her facial features. Although she’d done book tours several times over, it still isn’t consolation enough to rid her of these plagued feelings. The uncertainty is always high, when speaking in front of groups of people, that even her agent’s words can’t quell the discomfort in her gut.
She shakes off the unsettling feeling, and instead focuses on the gorgeousness of the day beyond the glass windows. Having just departed from Saffron City and heading towards the coastal metropolis of Goldenrod, Shauntal begins counting the things she’s looking forward to, in order to better ground herself for the big day ahead.
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“It’s for research, Iggy!” Emmet remembers using that particular phrase multiple times before getting his twin’s approval. Ingo had seemed a tad exasperated, and he feels just a bit guilty but it’s mostly buried underneath the sheer excitement of being able to travel for the sake of work. Well, it’s more so for his own personal curiosity but whatever info he gets can be beneficial for the station, so it’s a win-win situation all around!
Unova is pretty much the only region where you can battle on trains, no less than the brainstorm of the two young engineers turned train conductors. With the help of other experts in the field, the Single and Double Trains are customized to handle most attacks dealt within the special battling cars, allowing for the Battle Subway to come into existence.
Their babies are unique in its own right, but Emmet is curious on the structure of trains in different regions. He knows that one famous line is the one bisecting the Kanto-Johto region, connecting Saffron City all the way to Goldenrod. Unova’s region is large and centered, so there hadn’t been a need to extend the rails into neighboring regions. Whereas their trains are built for durability, this train is suited for speed.
Emmet wants to know for himself the experience of one riding, so he convinces Ingo to give him half the week off so he can travel to Kanto, catch the train into Johto before returning back home with recorded data. After promises of buying souvenirs, the younger twin flies over to Kanto. Not many people traveled for the purpose of riding other public transportation, but that just goes to show how much Emmet loves trains!
It’s not long before he’s a passenger of the train, watching as the scenery zooms by. Emmet had taken some time to simply explore the cars, striking up conversations with a couple of the on hand staff before he settles down. Nerves buzzing with excitement, he regrets not bringing a notebook that he could write everything down into. Oh well, he just needs to commit everything to memory, then.
Before he can indulge in some daydreaming, a mousy voice calls his attention and what do you know? Emmet didn’t expect to see a familiar face all the way out here!
“Well, I’m here for some research! Not a lot of regions have an active train line that I can make comparisons to!” he responds with a laugh, easily making room for Shauntal to sit down. Emmet can’t say he’s too well acquainted with the Elite, but he did hear about her achievements and how she’s a successful author. He thinks Ingo owns one of her books, too.
“What about you, Miss Shauntal? What has you all the way out here from Unova? You’re not too busy with League stuff?”
The snow fell steadily from the sky, piling up. A sheet of white had already covered the pavement. Surely, the city folk would wake up to a snow day.
Her heart beat rapidly in her chest as she took in the scene before her.
It was quiet for once.
The hustle and bustle of city life had ebbed away with the passing hours leaving behind this quiet. This dark and tranquil silence.
She felt oddly dizzy — a swaying motion here and there.
What time was it?
Her gaze found the city clock looming overhead, ticking away each passing second she stood there.
3:00 am
She shouldn’t be here.
Home often called to her during the holidays.
Screaming at her to abandon her futile attempts and to just go back.
Back to where?
Did she even have that right?
She had abandoned home first. Without a second thought.
No one would ever know that she had returned to Unova.
She would be gone before the morning light.
This little secret of hers kept to herself.
The hero has returned?
No. She was just leaving.
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When the weather changed, it felt like the days were becoming longer. Though, it might just be the late night shift that Emmet took up as to cover for one of the Depot Agents that called in sick this morning. In such chilly temperatures, it was so very easy to fall ill. Emmet had taken precautions to prevent such a fate, for the station needed him and his twin at this time of year. Passenger rates increased as people set about to warmer climates or simply wished to visit faraway relatives during the holidays.
Emmet knew the stakes at hand, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t draining. Winter never failed to bring out this lethargy that tried to sink into his bones. Oh, it wasn’t like he hated the season. He loved the act of bundling up and everything else associated with warming oneself up. Still, staying outside whilst on duty could sap even his seemingly boundless energy.
Heaving out a careful sigh, Emmet cast a glance at the clock. It was almost time for him to close the station proper now that the last trains had departed. Since he took up this late shift, he wouldn’t have to come in early the following morning to open up; those few extra hours will certainly be spent on catching some much needed sleep.
After he went through the motions of closing up, Emmet watched as darkness engulfed the station before he locked the doors behind him. The main station floor remained open to the public, but they won’t be able to get onto the platforms until the trains ran again in the morning.
Upon stepping out, it seemed that they’ve been graced by a rain of white. Emmet tightened the scarf around his neck, then stuffed his gloved hands deep within his pockets. He couldn’t wait to return back to his shared apartment and wiggle his way underneath his blanket. Quietly, he walked away from the station, his tall stature cutting an almost haunting silhouette under the falling snow and light cast from streetlamps.
Emmet wanted to head straight back home, but it looked like fate had other plans. If he didn’t flicker his gaze to the left at that precise moment, he might have missed the figure slumped on one of the benches, dressed in clothes unfitting of this weather. It might be one of the rare drunkards that occasionally partied too hard, but in this frigid temperature, Emmet just couldn’t leave them be. So it was with long strides that closed the distance between them.
“Hey, are you alright there? You shouldn’t be out in this weather at this time of night,” Emmet asked with a gentle shake of her shoulder. Upon closer inspection, the figure turned out to be a young woman. Though, it was when she looked up that he realized that she wasn’t a stranger to him. Years might have passed since their meeting but Emmet will never forget this face.
The image of fierce battle within the Double Train, matching grins etched across their lips briefly flitted past his mind.
For being a young 20-something, Dawn is far more atypical than others her age. It could easily be due to her strict upbringing; or, perhaps, having endured her many years as a “child star”. Either way, her behaviors when it comes to the hedonistic lifestyle adapted by many is closer to that of an old lady, not someone in the prime of her life. The young woman’s never felt the pressure to conform, however; perhaps, an after-effect of a lifetime of fame. She can’t say for certain.
She’s been stowed away in her Nimbasa flat for several hours now, having just conducted a webcam interview with Gabby and Ty — two of the few she’ll take time out for. Gabby typically will pry, but what with Ty’s influence, the interviews are neither boring nor too invasive, which is much to her liking. Oh, how the culture of those from Hoenn is a far cry from the over-eager Unovans and their thirst for salacious headlines.
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She looked quite young, was the first thought that Emmet had with the patron next to him. Dean was a bartender who imposes a strict rule on underaged drinking, so she must be of legal age. Guess you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, huh? It actually took him a moment to realize that hey, someone’s talking with you. Since she threw out the opener, Emmet figured that he should give a decent reply. Tired as he was, it didn’t his manners went out the window.
Plastering on a small smile, he properly sat up, giving her a full view of his sideburns. Man, even that small movement made his back ache. Just because he had grey hair, it didn’t mean that he was old! “Mmm... you could say that. Work’s been busy -- both battling wise and the managerial side of things. Even that could be tiring on the mind, you know?”
Emmet couldn’t tell if she recognized him as one of Nimbasa’s Subway Bosses, but honestly, he’d prefer to keep that persona of his in the back pocket for tonight. Right now, he was just Emmet Hildebrand, a guy who wanted a few drinks in him to loosen up the tensions of the day. Nothing wrong with a bit of indulging every now and then.
Soon, Dean handed him his drink. Tipping his head in gratitude, Emmet picked up his glass, taking a moment to feel the cold that seeped into his fingertips. The ice clinked against the glass when he swirled it around before he took a sip. A little strong but the ice helped dilute the sharp taste, allowing him to savor the depth of this flavor. Rich, smooth, almost smoky -- he heaved out a pleased sigh, eyes sliding shut for a moment.
The alcohol had yet to hit him so soon after his first sip, but it was enough for him to feel a little loose lipped. Another sip before he turned to face the young lady who seemed to be enjoying her own drink. “How about you? Needed a little break from the today? I like coming here cause it’s not as loud or flashy as the other bars in the city. Too much excitement for little ol’ me.” Now that he was properly looking at her, something nagged at the back of his mind. Emmet felt like he’d seen her before, but where? Had she been a challenger on the Double Train once?
It’s a rather simple inquiry, what it is that Ingo is most excited about during their trip, but it’s one that he mulls over for several moments, humming loudly as he glances from the frost encrusted path to the looming figure of the tower itself, glittering pridefully in the sunlight.
The oldest known structure in all of Unova? It’s plain to see now that he can see it in person, why, with it’s weathered structure unlike anything else that exists currently in Icirrus City, but it remains a title that the tower wears well.
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While Ingo takes his time to mull over an answer, Emmet busies himself by drinking in the natural winter wonderland-esque. Snow visited them when the seasons changed, but he felt like there was a special appeal in a place that was perpetually covered white, with its softened mounds and jagged icicles. Even the snow crunched beneath his boots felt different!
Emmet’s attention swung back to Ingo when he finally spoke up. Mmm, of course that’d be Iggy’s answer! Their jobs meant that they had little time to travel, so being able to come to places they only got to see in the travel books by the station’s convenience store was practically a treat of itself! Though, the mentioning of that incident briefly flipped his smile.
Oh well, their activities were practically non-existent lately, and things had been peaceful for awhile now, so he won’t bother himself with such needless thoughts. They were here to explore and have fun, after all! “I get what you mean! Despite the... circumstances, just being able to enter one of Unova’s oldest structures is an experience worth trying. Let’s just make the most of what we have!”
A delighted laugh escaped him upon seeing Ingo seemingly brightened up just a little at the thought of documenting their trip. Anything worth noting down goes into the camera! Emmet flashes his twin a grin, bounds over to him and neatly grabbed the device from Ingo’s hand. His free arm wrapped itself around Ingo’s shoulders, tugging his twin close, almost cheek to cheek. Emmet’s smile is felt more than see by this point.
“The first picture has to be a selfie of us! C’mon Iggy, smile for the camera!” This was not a smartphone with a screen to snap their picture with, so Emmet just positioned it to where he thinks is the right spot before snapping a picture. When he turned the camera around to check, he still laughed at the image. Only half of their faces could be seen, with the tower slanted to the left.
“Okay, maybe this isn’t as effective,” he commented, looking rather tickled still.
On rare nights when Emmet is done with work for the day, he would bid Ingo a nice night as he leaves their office before he slides into Nimbasa’s night life. The city is extravagant enough during the day, but at night, that’s where you can see the people really having a fun time. Emmet easily keeps to the shadows of the sidewalk, idly glancing at the clubs that comes to the life. It’s never his sort of scene, but he can see its appeal to the younger generation.
He thinks like he’s middle aged as opposed to a man nearing his thirties. Emmet shakes his head in mild amusement, then continues to his destination.
Nimbasa City was as lively and spirited as he recalled despite the harsh sands that wrapped around the pavement that lead up to it, and while that might have been a comforting thought to most, it wasn’t to Touya. A part of him had never planned to return to Unova let alone wander about one of its bigger cities, but the regions he had explored since he had run away had yielded nothing in terms of locating his missing friend (if the green-haired man would even consider him one after how miserably he had failed), and he had little choice but to turn back for the time being in an attempt to dig up any signs he may have missed before he had rushed away from the region. That being said, he had no intention of staying long or of speaking with anyone. A few short visits to a handful of cities and towns, and he would be off again. Or so he had hoped, but his stay had already extended longer than he had originally intended it to. And the dread that had built up within his gut as a result was painful. With his hood nestled over his eyes, he kept his head down as he walked. He had grown out his hair a bit, but he doubted the people who called this region their home would have forgotten about him, no matter how much he wished they would.
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By now it’s a routine to get up before the sun rises, his internal clock waking him up a couple of minutes before his alarm does. Emmet sits on his bed, blinking sluggishly as he waits for the rest of his body to catch up, then slides off his bed with a stretch. It takes him about half an hour to wash up and dressed in his uniform before he snags his set of keys from the rack on his journey outside.
Nimbasa City is always bustling one way or another, but during early mornings like this, caught in that odd lull of after the morning work rush and before the day really starts, it feels almost peaceful. Emmet’s long legs easily eats up the ground as he makes his way to Gear Station. A quick glance at the sky shows him of distant grey clouds, so after a moment of deliberation, he makes a quick shop at his favorite deli to buy breakfast and lunch that can be heated up later.
With two sets of orders in hand -- because knowing his twin, he’d probably just stick with the station fare, and while they’re not terrible by any means, a change of pace is always nice -- Emmet continues on his path until the familiar building comes into view. Sometimes he still finds it hard to believe that the concept they came up years back then is a reality, but once he passes through the doors, he believes that this is real.
A quick sweep of the station shows quite a number of patrons already, but it’s likely that they’re regular passengers who wants to take the early trains. Emmet heads to their shared office, dropping off Ingo’s portion on his desk before he digs into his loaded bagel and coffee. After that, the real work truly begins for him. With his Pokemon and supplies in check, Emmet goes to the Double Train, shifting from one of the people in charge of this station to Subway Boss Emmet, the goal for people who battles on this train.
His first shift ended with five wins and three losses for him by the time the train pulls back to the station. Today’s challengers were quite spirited, which is always a plus in his book. His Pokemon needed to be healed, so during his break, Emmet goes to the Pokemon Center, mindful of the dark clouds that threaten to rain. It seems that he’s quite lucky, for by the time he sprints back to the station, the heavens opened up. By the looks of it, he’s guessing a slower pace this evening if the rain continues like this.
At that prediction comes true, for after an hour spent on paperwork, he exits his office to find a mostly quiet station. A few people were still around, but it lacks the busy atmosphere from this morning. This is fine. Some days are like that, so he just had to fill his time by doing other productive things.
Like helping out a stranger, for example. Emmet spotted a figure near the doors, accompanied by a wet looking Liepard. They must have gotten caught up in the rain before they found shelter at this station. Being who he is, Emmet approaches the pair, pausing at the Pokemon’s hiss. He keeps a respectable distance when the individual speaks up.
“Well, the weather can be quite unpredictable, especially with the changing seasons,” Emmet comments lightly, tucking his hands behind his back. “It seems that you two were caught in the rain. I barely managed avoid getting drenched myself.” He wears a kind smile. “Would you like to dry up inside? I have a couple of towers stored up that you and your Liepard can use. It’s not good to stay wet for too long, now.”
It started with a sneeze. Emmet thought nothing about it as he continued to work on his paperwork in the office. The AC was running, and he didn’t have the time to clean his desk so dust could have easily collected. There were other things to think about, like the state of the trains and the possibility of upgrading the interior of one of the earliest models.
But then he sneezed again, managing to cover it up. A sniffle, and he was hunched once more, slowly reading the document at his own pace. The next one he managed to stifle, though it did make his head hurt for a moment. Emmet’s brows furrowed a little, eyes making a quick sweep of his desk. It wasn’t that dusty, was it?
Perhaps it could use a bit of spring cleaning later. It wasn’t a major inconvenience, so he resumed his reading– until another one crept up without warning.
Emmet groaned, partially from the last minute stifle and that Ingo chose that exact moment to come into the office.
“Goodness, that sounded rather painful,” he commented lightly. “Are you feeling alright?”
He fumbled for a tissue and once the immediate need was handled, he gave a little airy wave. “’s fine Iggy. Guess I should’ve dusted my desk or something.”
A simple answer, though one that Ingo seemed dissatisfied with. His twin approached his desk, making a swipe with his glove on the rim of one of his books.
“On the contrary, there doesn’t seem to be any dust,” he commented after finding that his gloved finger came away clean. Ingo turned to look at him, a hint of concern in his eyes. “Are you sure it’s your allergies, and not something else?”
Well, when Ingo put it like that, Emmet wasn’t so sure himself. “I mean, I thought it was…” He took a moment to really address how he felt. Well, aside from the sneezing, there was a little tickle in his throat. Now that dust wasn’t a factor, he came to a possible conclusion.
“I guess, maybe I’m coming down with something?” Emmet really didn’t like that prospect. He hated getting sick, especially at this age. Leaving all the work for Ingo to shoulder didn’t sit well with him. As does lying to his twin – unless it was for a really good reason – which was why he answered honestly.
Ingo definitely looked a little worried now, knowing that his rarity in falling ill was made up for the intensity when it did come knocking. “Hmm, perhaps you should take the rest of the day–”
“It’s fine, Iggy!” Emmet quickly intercepted, flashing him his best smile. “I mean, if it turns out to be true, it’s going to suck, I know that. But right now, I still feel good! At least let me do as much work as I can before I have to foist it off to you, alright?” With a slightly pleading tone, he also pulled out all the stops by using the Eyes in hopes that Ingo would agree.
He looked conflicted, but his twin sighed. “Alright, but the moment you feel bad, promise me that you’ll go back home and rest, okay?”
That he can do. “Alright, I promise.”
( And in two days, Emmet did find himself slammed with a bug that left him moaning and shivering in bed. His only companions had been a few boxes of tissues from how congested and itchy his nose felt, his tablet to watch reruns of his old favorite shows when his headache allowed him, and occasionally Ingo when he entered his room, carrying food and medicine.
He insisted that Ingo didn’t have to do this. The last thing he wanted was to get him sick too. Of course, he really couldn’t stop him and try as he might, Emmet still felt warm inside at the show of love and care from his twin.
[ ┊┊ ♒ ┊┊ ] > Unova had certainly changed since he’d last visited - but then, that had been at least ten years ago now. Plenty could change in such a long time, and it seemed Nimbasa City had embraced the idea of change. Last time he’d been there, the theme park had still been new. Now, there was clearly a lot more to see. That rollercoaster looked promising…
But for now, Archie was more curious about the train station. From the looks of it, the trains were Unova’s version of the Battle Resort, if the signs were all correct. He hadn’t come with the intent to actually use any of the trains, but his curiosity was easily piqued.
Would there be any harm?
His hotel reservation didn’t need to be confirmed until one p.m. …
Shrugging, he approached the nearest person and tapped them on the shoulder. Fancy looking guy, actually. “Hey, y’ got a minute to answer some questions for a tourist?” If not, he could just move on to the next stranger and hope they were friendlier.
As always, Emmet rises bright and early for another full work day. He goes through his morning routine, grabs a light breakfast before he heads off to the station first, promising Ingo that he’ll swing by his office later with some lunch. The Depot Agents were scurrying about by the time he arrives, prepping the station to accommodate today’s batch of passengers and Trainers.
Emmet gets on the first Double Train of the day, his team primed and ready for battling. A couple of challengers did get to him within the first hour, resulting in two wins and one lost. As this is one of the shorter routes, it’s not conceivable for the winner to battle him again if they continue at this pace, so he promises that the next time, if they manage to get a 40 battle win-streak, Emmet will personally battle them with his strongest team.
The rest of the battles went on smoothly until the train pulls up at Gear Station. He’s among the crew that greets the people filtering out off the train, wishing them to have a good day. With his morning battles out of the way, Emmet thinks it’s about time he go pick up some lunch from the nearby restaurant for himself and Ingo. Knowing his twin, he might just buy something from the vending machine simply for convenience.
Before Emmet gets to go far though, he feels a tap on his shoulder. Judging from his looks, he’s guessing that this tourist is either from Hoenn or Alola. Pretty sturdy looking fella too. Emmet has height but he feels like he’d snap between those strong looking arms. Regardless, he wears a friendly smile, clasping his hands behind his back as he responds, “Why of course! What would you like to ask, good sir?”
