This journey was supposed to be the easiest fucking thing ever. But now...can't believe I'm sayin' it-I think I, need...h-he-ugh...
"Ruby's taking forever," said a young woman pacing about an apartment kitchen, "I know that Mauville Freight place has her workin' late a lot, but shouldn't even she be home by now, Kyto?"
The young man relaxing on a sectional sofa chuckled. "Saffy, you worry way too much. She'll be here when she'll be here-our week vacation only started a couple hours ago!"
The three-by-three had a contemporary look; fake plants livened the corners whilst various paintings and photographs adorned the walls. The sliding door revealed a twilighted Courtyard.
Safira bit her lip, shifting indigo eyes to him. "Mm, I s'pose. And as fun as our office job is, it does feel nice to be free for a bit since our degrees." She wrapped her hands behind a neat bun, pins controlling side bangs.
"Fun?" Kyto lightly scoffed as he combed his fingers through sandy hair. "You get to do all that creative, artsy stuff while I get to sit and stare at a computer screen." Heavy green eyes fixated on the balcony as he whispered to himself, "Yeesh, can't believe a friggin' year's gone by already."
"You signed up for it," she giggled, "But hey, wanna pass the time with some Hoenn Rangers?"
He quickly sat up, grinning. "Heck yeah! Always down for nostalgia." He turned on their television and she hurried to sit beside him. A couple advertisements later, the very show began to play.
After a twenty-minute episode, the apartment's main door banged open; another young woman marched in with a loaded satchel slung over a shoulder and each arm holding a large bag of carryout food. Kyto and Safira immediately turned around.
"Yo!" Ruby boomed, "What is up, Sista and Mista?!" She shut the door with a hip, kicked her ankle boots off by sandals and sneakers, then headed to the kitchen table. Brunette like Safira, her bushy ponytail hung low.
"Roo!" The two cheered at once, rushing to her as the show went on.
Ruby stretched her pale, muscled limbs. "A coworker got the wrong delivery, so this grub's for us! But damn was today long, as if it wasn't annoyin' enough they had me come in earlier than normal too." She massaged her forehead and beautymarked cheekbones as she briefly glanced at the TV.
Kyto sifted through both bags. "Village Subs! Booyeah," he said under his breath as he went to the kitchen cupboard to grab plates and cups.
"Well, guess what?" Safira added, taking a chair. "We're all here, which means we're officially on vacation! Yay~!"
Ruby smirked. "Damn right! And, I may or may not have a bigass surprise for y'all, heh-I'mma be honest about it now, just don't hate me for it!" Safira and Kyto gave each other a look, then turned their gaze to Ruby.
"Oh, geez," said Safira apprehensively, "What have ya gotten us into now?"
"Better not be anything too crazy," Kyto muttered as he sheepishly put a hand behind his head.
Ruby pretended to laugh nervously. "Sooo, y'know how we never did our own journey, yeah?" They nodded.
"Yep," Safira sighed after a second, closing her eyes as she cupped her face in her hands. "I just wish we could go back in time and fix all that mess." Ruby's face darkened at the thought.
"And you know I was always terrified to," said Kyto, looking away somewhat scornfully. "Can't believe my own folks actually pushed me to-wait." He turned back to stare at Ruby. "Where are you going with this?"
Ruby's smirk immediately returned as the two began their meals. "Maybe a month ago at work, I'd asked around for the Professor's contact; figured at least someone would have it. And wouldn't ya know, I got it from one of the dads. So! Made the call, got through after a few tries and, well, Birch agreed to meet with uuus...tomorrow: Prism Tower statue, Seven in the Mornin'!"
Safira choked on a morsel and Kyto spit out a sip towards the wall. "What?!"
Ruby put up both hands and chuckled. "I know, I know! It's crazy sudden. But-"
"Yeah, but, what about our jobs?" demanded Safira as she crossed her arms.
"And my folks will about lose their marbles…!" Kyto slouched way back in his chair, dreading that possibility. He hurriedly continued his portion.
Ruby finally sat down and started her own plate before continuing. "Relax, y'all! This place is paid off for another month, doubt the journey'll take that long. And! I talked to both bosses; they're cool."
Kyto gazed up at the ceiling and groaned. "Sure hope so, since it seems we're getting roped into it."
"Lil' sis," said Safira, slowly finishing her plate and looking hard at Ruby, "If this goes wrong and they don't take it well, then we'll be in serious trouble!"
"Saffy, Ky-I promise this'll work out. And I've never broken a promise, right~?" Ruby smiled innocently, putting an index finger to a slightly-dimpled cheek. The two cackled.
Kyto playfully rolled his eyes. "Aaand she wins again."
"Of course~," Safira dittied before sighing heavily. "Well, dang...seems we've suddenly got lotsa preparin' to do, then!"
Finishing her portion last, Ruby stood and took their dishes to the washer. "Don't sweat it. Everything we've learned from Rustburo 'n' here put us over a decade ahead of the game!"
She turned around, icy eyes confident, and raised fists by her hips. "Now, let's focus on packing and resting up for tomorrow. A whole new life is waitin' for us!" Kyto and Safira grinned at each other as Ruby rushed down the hallway.
The walls of her bedroom were maroon, carpet black to match the curtains that covered the sole window. Her twin bed, matching the color theme, was a mess of scattered pillows and blankets; it claimed a corner across from her mahogany desk. An electric guitar with a medium-sized amplifier lay beside the closet. She gave a hefty exhale before walking over to sit on the bed.
I am gonna miss this room, not to mention playing...Hope I can still be back here once I'm Champion, heh. I'm comin' for ya, Steven Stoner. Ruby stood up and contemplated whether to pack right then or in the morning. She then turned the room's light off and its fan on before plopping back down and tossing her fingerless gloves while still clothed in a distressed crop tank and jean shorts. Wonder what the nerd's like in reality as opposed to publicity... She yawned as she wrapped herself in a blanket and cuddled a body pillow.
"Well, you heard 'er!" Safira put in, "G'night~!" She merrily skipped to her room, Kyto chuckling as he moseyed behind.
"Night, silly thing," he affectionately replied as he entered his own that opposed the sisters'.
Safira's room was nearly the opposite of Ruby's: white walls with navy carpet and sided curtains. Her baby-blue twin bed was neatly made, the desk made of glass; upon it lay a bin of various crafts. She smiled softly, crouching between it and her dresser to begin packing travel basics into her large purse. Gosh, seems like not even that long ago we moved from separate dorms into our own little hub.
After finishing, she changed from her turtleneck tank and leggings into a nightgown. Then she tucked herself into the bedsheets, leaving only the desk lamp on. She turned to glance at the framed double-signed photo of Wallace and Lisia on the nightstand. We do have a bigger possibility of meeting my idols-ohh, doing contests with my own Pokemon too? This just might be perfect~!
Kyto's room also had the same general layout but with violet walls and carpet. Translucent curtains matched the half-made minty green twin, which stood across from a metallic desk. A couple boxes lay within the closet, one with notebooks and the other with research texts. By them, he slowly stuffed his large backpack with necessities. Oof, the biggest thing I've ever been anxious about is finally happening...but with these two, maybe it won't be so bad.
When done, he placed it by the door before taking his hoodie off and laying down in just his cargo pants. Now, when to tell Mum and Pop? Bah, maybe I'll just avoid that talk as long as I can. But being the first in this region to fully complete the 'Dex-seems that old dream is suddenly doable.