Family slip road
By Lord Agravane the Undead
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon or Team Magma. I do own the two lads and their families.
Part 1
Rustboro City
"Hmm. Where on Earth am I going to put Dedenne?"
Hobart Rhodium gazed at the mass of posters on his wall and frowned. They were posters of everything; from Pokemon to rock bands to weird swirly designs that had probably been painted by artists under the influence of vast amounts of weed. There were also many posters on his bed, including one of an adorable Dedenne which was next to go up.
But where? There was a space between a Dragonite and a Hydreigon but Hobart didn't want to put it there as the dragon Pokemon would probably be afraid of a part fairy type hamster/gerbily critter. There was room on the back of the door but on the panel below was a poster of an Espurr and Hobart was pretty sure Dedenne wouldn't want to go next to a cat.
"Maybe on the ceiling?" Hobart wondered. "But can I reach that high?"
"Hobart!" A sweet, melodious voice called him from the other side of the door.
"Yeah, come in", Hobart called back.
The door opened and a pretty young lady entered. She brushed her soft golden hair back of her porcelain face and gave Hobart a smile that would have melted all the snow in Sinnoh.
"Hi Adelaide", Hobart said. "What's up?"
"Oh Hobart!" Adelaide said reproachfully. "Have you already covered your lovely new wallpaper with those awful posters? Mummy will be simply furious! Especially if you've used drawing pins".
"I didn't use pins, I used Blu Tack", said Hobart. "Anyway, I like my posters".
"Hmph!" sniffed Adelaide. "Well, Mummy wants to speak to you immediately. Come along now".
"Yes Miss", Hobart muttered behind his sister's back. They headed down a wide staircase; Adelaide floating like a ballerina and Hobart stumping behind, hands in pockets. He wondered what his mom wanted him for. She usually left himself to himself as much as possible and when she required his presence, it was usually to berate him for something or other. Hobart hoped that what ever it was, it wouldn't be too terrible.
"Do hurry Hobart", Adelaide said impatiently, as she reached the bottom of the stairs. "Mummy doesn't like to be kept waiting".
"I'm coming", said Hobart, jumping the last couple of steps and landing with a bump on the polished wooden floor. Adelaide sighed and opened the door to the living room.
Inside, sitting on an expensive settee, was a very attractive woman in her early forties. She looked similar to Adelaide, except her hair was platinum blonde. A young man of about twenty lounged against the window seat, a bored expression on his face. He rolled his eyes at Hobart and pointed towards an easy chair.
"About time, little brother. Sit down and stop making the place look untidy".
Hobart flomped into the chair and leaned back. Adelaide sat down gracefully, next to her mother on the settee. Mrs Rhodium beamed at her children and clasped her smooth hands together.
"Now dears", she fluttered. "My special friend, Roger, is coming round this evening, for a delicious meal. I would appreciate it if you would all find productive and interesting things to do in this new city we have just moved to. Do any of you sweeties have any plans?"
"I'm going to visit the art gallery with my friends and soak up some culture", simpered Adelaide.
"Splendid!" exclaimed Mrs Rhodium. She turned to her eldest son. "How about you, Bendigo?"
"I'm going to mingle with my chums at the golf club", gushed Bendigo.
"Ohhh, thrilling!" sighed Mrs Rhodium happily. Her smile faded a little as she caught the eye of Hobart. "And you, dear?"
"Uh, I was gonna play computer games but if you want me to scat for the night, I guess I'll go down the arcade", he shrugged.
Mrs Rhodium adopted a pained expression. Bendigo snorted. Adelaide breathed in and widened her eyes in disapproval.
"What?" said Hobart, a little impatiently.
"Dear, mind your tone in front of Mummy!" scolded Mrs Rhodium.
"Sorry Mom".
"MOM!" Bendigo groaned. "Hobart, you speak like a punk from Unova".
"You're so common", added Adelaide. "Grubby posters, computer games, jumping down our new stairs like a sack of potatoes..."...
"Potatoes can't jump", Hobart pointed out.
"Hobart!" said Mrs Rhodium said sharply. "Manners! Interrupting your sister like that.
"Ok, Ok, sorry sis", Hobart said hastily.
"Now he's saying OK", Bendigo sneered. "I suppose that's how they talk in those awful computer games you rot your brain with".
"I blame your father", said Mrs Rhodium. "Always away on business trips all the time".
"Yes! Soon we'll all forget what Daddy looks like", said Adelaide.
"A boy needs his father at home", Mrs Rhodium said in a high pitched voice. "That's what the problem is". Bendigo and Adelaide nodded wisely
"I don't see why", said Hobart. "Even when he is at home, he never bothers me".
"Oh! See! See how your brother talks", Mrs Rhodium wailed. "Now he's showing disrespect for his parents".
"He's going off the rails!" said Bendigo. "He'll be joining some criminal gang next".
"I will not!" Hobart cried in dismay. "That's not fair. The seas will dry up before I do anything like that!"
"Hobart! Don't shout at your brother", Mrs Rhodium shrieked. "Such disrespect, honestly, I despair of what to do with you..."...
"I'm going out before Roger gets here", Hobart muttered and he turned and fled.
Hobart slouched along the wide, tree lined avenue, moodily kicking at loose chippings. It's not fair he thought. I can't do anything right at home! I bet when I breathe, it's too loud or sounds common or like somebody from Unova breathing.
I just don't fit in with my family! Dad and Mom ignore me and Ben and Addie are practically perfect, it's a wonder rainbows don't shine and fanfares of trumpets sound whenever they appear.
Hobart stopped outside the window of a 7-11 store and stared at his reflection. No wonder he was the black Mareep of the family. He didn't even LOOK like the others. They were slim, tall and blonde, either with sapphire blue or violet eyes. He was stocky, with dark hair and hazel eyes. Hobart had asked if he was adopted once and his mom had told him no. Apparantly he got his looks from eccentric Great Uncle Talbert, who collected light bulbs and was partial to the absinthe. This was surely a sigh that Hobart would, at some point, become a raging alcoholic.
Hobart didn't even look smartly dressed. His arms were covered in temporary tattooes (the kind that you got in packets of gum) and he was wearing a t-shirt with a Chesnaught on, which was captioned with Ya wanna make something of that?
Hobart wanted some sweets out of the store but he'd rushed out of the house quickly and forgotten his money. Which also meant that the arcade was out. Shrugging, he set off again down the avenue. He had no idea where he was going but anywhere was better than back at home.
Not that it's a real home, anyway Hobart thought. I wish I had a real home with a family who liked me, like in the movies or TV shows.
Of course, even a friend would be nice to have. Hobart was super shy and he often became tired of hearing about how many friends his siblings had and how they mingled with The Right Crowd and why didn't he have even ONE friend?
Making friends is hard Hobart thought. And now we've moved to Rustboro, it'll be even harder, I bet. But it would be nice to have just one. Not to impress my mean family. Hahaha, family, that's a joke. But to have somebody to hang out with.
Hobart rounded a corner and suddenly, was knocked flying by a boy about his age. He fell over backwards and the boy tumbled on top of him. They stared at each other in astonishment, before the newcomer grinned.
"Hey there", he said, wiping a grubby hand across his nose, which was dripping with snot. "My name's Frankley and you're my friend, right?"
"Huh?" said Hobart. The boy smiled at him hopefully.
"Uh, I guess so", said Hobart. "I'm Hobart. Pleased to meet you".
"Great! That's awesome", said Frankley. Scrambling off Hobart, he helped him back onto his feet. Hobart shook his head to clear the buzzing out of his ears, then he realised the buzzing was in fact, the footsteps of many boys approaching. Big, mean looking boys who were built like Granbulls. Frankley glanced towards them, then grinned weakly at Hobart.
"Now that we're friends, you can help me fight that lot of bullies", he said.