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rockheadcd · 1 year ago

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@electrivolt asked: An approaching storm this fierce was rare on this side of Sinnoh. Maybe that should've been Roark's warning sign of its origins and what, exactly, was coming in with such a rush, when it would hardly ever step outside of its home as it is. Alone as it is once it lands, the massive bird urging Roark to follow with so little action, he should know already that maybe something's wrong, shouldn't even hesitate to follow. ( when was the last time he actually heard anything from volkner, actually…? ) Maybe he knows already what's going on, doesn't he? Zapdos has never led him back to its refuge before. No one other than Volkner was supposed to ever know it even exists, this cave hidden away in the heights of the cliffs near Sunyshore. Until now, at least, the bird flying with all of its speed, lightning under its wings, leading the gym leader right to it— and there he is. Bloodied, bruised and battered, his team still trying to shield him even from nonexistent danger, Lux's charged hiss the thing to get them all back in check. Volkner is unconscious, but alive, at least. ( it cannot lose its herald, just as none of them can lose family, not like this. they were desperate for the help by now, weren't they…? ) / hee hoo besties era.

Roark doesn't know how long it's been since the last message from Volkner—sometimes, he doesn't think about it, seeing as he's simply accepted that Sunyshore's gym leader often didn't contact people. The fact Volkner even responded at all was lucky in itself, even if Roark didn't hesitate to consider them friends. After the surprise attack on Oreburgh itself, Volkner somehow coming all the way there in what must have been a blink of an eye.. he was aware that at the very least, Volkner was looking out for him. Wasn't that what friends were for?

He sighs. Apparently it's been almost the whole working week. No, it must have been longer, for he doesn't remember the last quip about him being in the underground, either. Maybe he is worried, after all. It doesn't make sense, but it also wouldn't be the first time Volkner has gone off the radar all of a sudden. But, he either found him or he'd get something eventually.

( well, roark was fine with being an afterthought—that meant volkner took him into consideration at all, right? he's been better about that, warming up to him. it's been nice in between the gaps, especially after… well, if volkner still had an ounce of ire for him forgetting a solid chunk of his childhood, he still wouldn't blame him )

Oreburgh's skies are often cloudy, being nestled into Mt. Coronet as it is, but these clouds aren't typically so dark in color, threatening downpour suddenly. This wasn't a summer storm, and yet there was a charge that tickles against his forearms.

…he remembers this, he thinks—when Volkner came with a storm behind him.

For a moment, there's an intrusive thought of hope, standing still on his way home, between packed dirt pathing and clean hillsides. Maybe Volkner's around after all, just having forgotten, nothing more. But the longer he lingers, the darker the overhead clouds become, swallowing the afternoon light, snuffing out the sun, and shrouding the ambient brightness with a veil of gray.

Then it appears, in blades of lightning tingling along it's feathers. The charged air in this very vicinity is palpable and Roark can feel it in the back of his throat.

Zapdos.

But without his friend.

That beaded stare could bore holes through him, the legendary staring intently with a slight nod—a beckon, Roark realizes. Maybe the bird in fact does know something about all this, and maybe Volkner isn't doing okay at all. To have this tempered storm come directly to him, seemingly on it's own.. Roark doesn't like the sudden chill he feels. Zapdos doesn't need to make a sound, really, for Roark understands very quickly.

He needs help and the 'mons that surround him only know one person he'd be okay to have them rely on.

Roark is surprised to find Zapdos' feathers to be dense, static crackling when his fingers sink down to hold on. The titan truly is an aged beast, the sheer power of its wings like lightning striking the earth. There's nothing pleasant about Zapdos' ascent and eventual steady altitude when they finally take to the skies—Roark's surprised at how it doesn't feel like his dense weight affects how quickly the bird zips between low clouds, the storm seemingly dissipating the farther away from Oreburgh they go. Perhaps a storm cell is really just Zapdos after all. It sure makes sense, seeing as Roark can't help but hold on for dear life, hoping his glasses can survive the trip—it's all kinds of bumpy between it's own weather manifesting and the fact they're already passing over the middle of Sinnoh, the air drastically cooler and ultimately beginning to sink into his elbows and nose as the few high points of skin exposed.

Roark can't even open his mouth lest whatever breathing he's figured out is ripped right out.

( given the surrounding weather, zapdos itself is worried, isn't it? volkner isn't in a good way, is he..? )

Sunyshore is visible from just the solar panels littering the roads and rooftops alone, and he's positive that Zapdos has chosen to take a nosedive in an attempt to descend faster than they have flown thus far—Roark isn't even sure how long it's been with the earth below them scrolling past, but he does notice that they're not heading within the city limits of Sunyshore itself, but north towards the more dense woods and uneven cliffs that come to reach out towards the sea.

( is this… where it lives? )

He isn't surprised by the amount of small caves in the area, but… he just wasn't expecting Zapdos to be one of those residents here..

His legs tremble when he finally can untwist his fingers out of goldenrod feathers, finally pressing his feet to solid ground—he'd be happy to walk back to Oreburgh at this point, but following the legendary brings him to pairs of illuminated eyes in the partial dimness of the cave, just enough shelter from the elements as the darkened clouds coagulate over Sunyshore once more. The sudden animosity has him leaning on his back foot, but thankfully, Luxray calms Volkner's team, and Roark carefully makes his way to their trainer.

"..Oh, fuck." He couldn't even begin to theorize what happened thus far, but to see bruises of all things.. this doesn't seem like another one of his encounters with a riled up 'mon needing an outlet. Roark takes his work gloves off, stuffing them in his pockets and switching the headlamp on for much-needed light. Volkner's completely out cold, and it's difficult to discern for what reason he is. There's signs of struggle, cuts, bruises, and blood in places it shouldn't be. Roark inhales, trying to calm his nerves and treat this like any other workplace accident.

He needs him, and it's not like Sunyshore's local hospitals are about to figure out what to do when a Kantonian legendary drops their gym leader in their lobby.

( okay… okay.. what are we working with here.. )

Even with Volkner completely deadweight, he's doesn't strain Roark's arms as he pulls him up from the shoulders, elevating him so he can rest him back down on folded knees. It's the blood trickling down his head that worries him the most at the moment, carefully grazing through muddled blond to find some lacerations as the source, certainly reinforcing how so little caused so much. There's not much he can do about that, having come this unprepared.

"Were any of you with him? What happened? Some of these are recent…" Roark poses his question to all of the 'mons present as he pushes up Volkner's sleeves, limp hand in his own as he surveys what he can. Scratches, bruises, his knuckles are discolored..

A skirmish… as far as he knew, Volkner didn't pick any fights unless he had a good reason to when he was younger—but he wouldn't have a reason to now unless…

Roark's lips press flat, thinking to himself and carefully inspecting Volkner's current state, mindful of anything that could have been fractured.

With the constant meddling of grunts in most cities, it inevitably fell upon gym leaders to keep their people safe as one of the most skilled trainers in the area. Admittedly, Roark had taken Volkner's lack of mentioning issues as a sign of avoiding uncertainty or weakness had there been a problem.. but with the lake so close to Sunyshore.. there was bound to be some activity, right? But there never was.

…Was this why…?

( volkner was the reason why, just… he never suspected that he'd take matters quite literally into his own hands )

If that was truly the case, Roark feels a little alarm—what these wounds could have festered might be more dangerous that he had thought if there were any poison types involved. And since he was already out cold, shallow breathing and all.. Eyes widen some as he quickly presses his fingers to Volkner's neck, checking the strength of his pulse. It's not great and he has no idea how long he's been here. He needs to get him back down to the city.

Then came the other problem—they'll have matching concussions if he tries to get out of here on foot.

Well. Fuck. Alright.

( who do i have on hand… ah! bagel.. is there enough space for her? outside, probably )

"Okay. I've got a plan, guys. Electivire, you and I are gonna carry Volk onto Bagel since we can't have Zapdos blowing it's cover. Ambipom, we'll support as much as we can in case he has any fractures or worse when we get to the nearest hospital," Roark explains, "Lux, Rotom, Jolteon, Raichu—bear with me—I'll need you guys in your balls for the trip down to the city. I'll come up with a good lie to cover up everything. Raichu, don't look at me like that, he'll be okay. I'm here!" The poor gordito… well, with the plan settled, Roark yanks on the wallet chain to get the team's balls, leaving only the heavy lifters to help transport their trainer to the eroding cliff just outside. Roark doesn't forget to address Zapdos, keenly aware of bristling static in his general vicinity as he checked over Volkner.

"..Thanks for letting me know. I'll make sure I get Rotom to keep you posted. I have a gut feeling he's gonna be out for a little while for one reason or another. But.. I'll stick around and make sure he's back up on his feet. It's the least I can do for what you've both done for me."

He means every word, even after the wounds incurred from that day. Roark was indebted and he could only return the favor and then some. That's just how he was.

With a breath, he forces up a half-smile and looks to his designated helpers. "Alright, let's go."

#electrivolt #🌙 ━ / asks.#🗻 ━ 𝗂'𝗅𝗅 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗈𝗎��𝗁 𝖼𝗈𝖺𝗅 𝗆𝗂𝗇𝖾𝗋'𝗌 𝗍𝗋𝗎𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗁! / roark ic.#long post #tw blood #just a lil hintin at galactic getting real tired of this clown. just a lil.

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