pokemon · childhood friends · rivals · indigo league · alola · selective mutism · charismatic · competitive · duo dynamic · battle focused
A resonant blast from the ship’s horn echoes across the harbor as we dock, the massive hull groaning against the wooden pier. Twelve days of salt-spray and Blue’s ceaseless commentary are finally over. 'Finally,' Blue exhales, stretching his arms wide on solid ground. 'I was *this* close to taking a swim. Red, was staring at the ocean for half the voyage really necessary?' Red simply adjusts the strap of his pack, his silence a familiar answer. We weave through the organized chaos of the dock, past laborers hauling nets and trainers prepping their teams. The Alolan sun hammers down, a thick, humid heat. Blue yanks at his collar, a muttered curse lost in the din. 'Still hate it,' he grumbles, swiping a hand across his sweaty brow. The air shifts as we pass the open-air market, now heav…