the forgotten one.

(starters inspired by too many drinks, city lights, and the kind of honesty that only comes after midnight)

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐑 𝐈𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐔𝐃 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆

“You look like you could use another drink… or a bad decision.”

“Don’t tell me you came here alone.”

“I’m not drunk, I’m just—emotionally flexible right now.”

“One more round, and I might actually tell you what I’m thinking.”

“I didn’t plan on running into you here.”

“You’ve got that look—like you’re either about to confess something or start a fight.”

“You’re staring again. Should I take that as an invitation?”

“You ever think about how many bad ideas start with a shot glass?”

“You dance like you’re trying to forget something.”

“It’s way past decent hours—what are you still doing out?”

𝐖𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆, 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐒𝐎𝐅𝐓

“You can stop pretending you’re fine. Nobody believes it after their third drink.”

“I thought you didn’t drink anymore.”

“It’s funny—liquor makes you honest, but you still can’t say what you really want, can you?”

“You shouldn’t walk home alone. I’ll come with you.”

“You always talk like this when you’ve had too much.”

“You smell like smoke and regret. It suits you.”

“Let’s make a pact—we don’t talk about this in the morning.”

“You shouldn’t have kissed me. But I’m not asking you to stop.”

“You ever get drunk enough to think the world might love you back?”

“We’re both going to regret this tomorrow, aren’t we?”

𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐄𝐑, 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐏

“What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done? I’ll go first.”

“Tell me a truth—just one. The kind you’d never say sober.”

“You’re going to forget this conversation in the morning, right?”

“If I told you I missed you, would you blame the alcohol?”

“You keep drinking like you’re trying to forget something. Or someone.”

“I didn’t mean to call you. My hands just remembered your number.”

“Why are you crying? Don’t tell me it’s just the gin.”

“You said you don’t love me anymore, but you’re still here.”

“Do you ever wonder how we got this lost?”

“Sometimes, I think the night listens better than people do.”

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 — quiet streets, unspoken things

“I’ll walk you home. You can pretend you don’t need me to.”

“It’s too late for goodbyes, isn’t it?”

“We shouldn’t have let it get this far.”

“You can hold my hand. Just for tonight.”

“Do you ever wish you’d met me sober?”

“Don’t fall asleep yet. The world feels softer when it’s still spinning.”

“Stay until the city forgets our names.”

“You look different under the streetlights.”

“Promise me you won’t vanish when morning comes.”

“I don’t know what I’ll remember most — the taste of the drink, or you.”

Brisk weather kept the antsy crowd company on this spring morning. Families and couples lined up for the grand opening of the long-awaited PikaPark studios. The Sinnoh region had never been graced with a theme park of such magnitude. Everything about it just screamed Unova. Ferris wheels, titan-sized rollercoasters, drop towers, and everything in between were just beyond the illuminated gates. But when the countdown for the park's opening had finished something strange occurred... the gates remained shut.

Minutes had passed, and the crowd grew displeased, practically terrorizing any employee with questions and their dissatisfaction. The owner of the branch, a large but kind man adorned in Pikachu-themed overalls and a top hat, spotted a bright blonde spark of salvation in the sea of people, and with that ounce of hope, he braved through his guests and latched onto the gym leader like there was no tomorrow. With all his might, he dragged Volkner to the front.

The situation was made clear to Sunnyshore's star and he replied. "I'll need some serious muscle to protect me, I need someone with strong pokemon. And one more thing for when the job is done."

Once again, the branch owner hunted high and low until he had found the much-needed muscle and repeated his plea to her, then promptly guided her to the meeting spot. Where the Sinnoh's 8th gym leader had just been conducting business with the utmost importance. "Cola? I thought we agreed on a Root beer? Fine whatever. Here. Beacon badge for the soda. Thanks again, kid." With one genuine bona fide gym badge in hand, the child smiled and dashed back to his family with his new treasure.

Snapping the can open, fizz erupted, pouring over his hand. In shock, Volkner's lips went to the can, trying to save some of his drink. In his rush, he had just only now noticed the branch owner and the brunette watching his transaction. The Blonde's head cocked back out of shock. "Oh, didn't see you there."

If she had known things would turn out this way, she would have reconsidered… but alas, hindsight is 20/20.

As it turns out, something is seriously wrong with the park. The owner announced to the restless crowd that he had found someone to help address whatever issues had arisen, but he subsequently pleaded for someone with strong pokémon to act as what she could only describe as “security.” To her surprise, the man’s gaze immediately landed on her; after spending so long in Kanto as a no-name living in the shadows of both Red and Green, it was astonishing to realize that her endeavors over the past several years had earned her recognition as a world-class trainer. So, Blue had agreed, figuring nothing could be worse than rogue magnet pokémon terrorizing Goldenrod City. 

She allows herself to be led to the designated meeting spot, not thinking much of it. Imagine her shock when she finds herself face-to-face with a familiar yet unfamiliar face framed by a shock of blonde hair, the man who had eluded her all those years ago...

Volkner.

His name forms on her lips, though it quickly dies out as she witnesses him casually hand over a Beacon Badge to a child in exchange for a soda, and her heart fractures. Even now, years later, the vacant space in her Sinnoh badge case feels like a ball and chain, anchoring her in the bitterness of a past that she can’t escape. He’s the reason she abandoned her dream of conquering the Sinnoh League, the reason she spent countless weeks waiting in anticipation for him to show up, her heart full of dreams she’s still not entirely sure are hers.

Those weeks so many years ago now feel like a blur of disappointment, made worse by his utter nonchalance. How dare he...!

She simply stares as the soda explodes all over his hand, perhaps a fitting act of karma. Shaking with silent fury, she tightly clenches her fists to ground herself. She can’t lose control in public right now, but the irritating, carefree smile on his face makes her glare at him.

“Yes, I know,” she replies flatly, crossing her arms over her chest in frustration. She then turns to the park owner. “I thought I was needed as ‘muscle.’ Why exactly am I here when you have Sinnoh’s top gym leader standing right there?”

O, for a draught of vintage! that hath been Cool’d a long age in the deep-delved earth, Tasting of Flora and the country green, Dance, and Provençal song, and sunburnt mirth! O for a beaker full of the warm South, Full of the true, the blushful Hippocrene, With beaded bubbles winking at the brim, And purple-stainèd mouth;

The wretched level of unconditional joy this piece for @evoblue, @rcguish and beloved @gruusha brought to my witless heart must be studied. I am endlessly delighted and gasping and out of my mind with love and thankfulness and happiness that all make me more dizzy than wine and strengthens me times more than fruit<зз