BURNIN' UP!

oh. huh. you’re right. ok. hold on.

[shoots some texts from his phone.]

it’s all settled. i told cynthia it was me and she said “that’s okay honey, take your time. let flint be there with you for as long as you need.” so you have the week off.

...that’s all it takes, huh? man, i dunno whether i should be impressed or worry...

guess i’m going with impressed -- thanks, volk! dunno what i’d do with out ya!

i hate it when you go to work…i had to do something. but yeah, she said something about it by tomorrow, ideally, so she can get it into HR and start looking for a suitable replacement. i don’t really know, i was busy eating.

...hey, volk...you ever thought about WHY i decided to join the elite four? WHY i gave up on tryin’ to be a champion? ...maybe it’s ‘cause one of the perks of the job let’s me be here more with you -- imagine if i’m forced to work somewhere else, dude. 

i’d have to kiss sunyshore city, good bye. i couldn’t just drop by and get you off your ass.

anyways…

i told cynthia you wanted to hang out with me and used your seniority to force roark into working.

no, i already told him you’re not coming. i made roark go instead. he’s the unofficial elite four member for the day. 

speak your mind, flint. you deserve a break. you can’t just let them overwork you and step all over you.

let’s talk to cynthia about this. i think they’re putting too much onto you. you’re a free spirit…and have hobbies of your own. this is your area. you can’t let them do that to you.

YOU SENT WHO? YOU SENT THAT STICK IN THE MUD, ROARK, TO TAKE MY PLACE? listen -- i love the guy -- i really fuckin’ do but -- MAN, does he have some issues ...not that i’m sayin’ he won’t do a great job! i’m sure he will but he doesn’t exactly got the qualifications and it’s a really stressful job -- i know i treat it like a joke sometimes but it’s not a joke! 

GAH -- i can just fuckin’ SEE him -- he’s probably goin’ easy on all those kids. trust me -- it works pretty well the first few times. you see a kid make it that far and you’re like hey! what the hell! they’re probably good if they’ve got here -- maybe i’ll let cynthia have some fun for once but noooooooooooooooooooooo, that’s not how the damn league works! cynthia needs some worthy challengers and it’s OUR job to make sure she gets ‘em --

fuck, i’m ramblin’ aren’t i-- you know what, ignore me. you’ve actually got a point, flint. they can handle it their damn selves this time! 

hey…aaron keeps texting me about how they need you at the league… @pyrelite

WH------ ............AGAIN? i thought they had their shit handled this time! leave it to aaron to bug me on my day off ...c’mon, man ... i deserve a break once in a while, right? ....tch.

“  oh.  you were serious.  ”  he guesses he shouldn’t be all that surprised,  but the prospect makes him a little too elated.  he sighs to himself.  “  a head’s up?  you make it sound like i don’t have a choice.  ”  as if he’d fight it.  but that doesn’t mean the fake bitch Will Not Try.  “  are you taking shots at me,  the guy that lives alone in a huge gym  ?  i like my gym anyways.  and i bet you wouldn’t do the dishes…  ”  volkner doesn’t do them himself.