Letters to You (RedxBlue)

Letter 3: Smell You Later, Asshole, Blue Oak

Getting on Lapras and leaving Dewford is a lazy feeling. The ocean currents are almost flat that day, and so that means the wind is down. As a result, the heat is considerable, and the wild pokémon are scarce at the moment, so there is nothing for Red to do but lay back against Lapras' long neck and watch the world move imperceptibly by. Lapras' flippers don't seem to cut through the water any more frequently than the occasional, wimpy swell of a wave passing. For a long time, the island looms in the distance. Pikachu, the only small pokémon Red has with him at the time, leans precariously off of Lapras' shell so he can dip his forepaws in the water and splash about. It's the only thing Red has to do, so he keeps a close eye on Pikachu.

A lone Pelipper passes overhead at some point, and Lapras coos at the flighted creature in her soft, sonorous way. Pikachu pulls his paws out of the water and sits himself properly on the shell and listens. Red trains his eyes overhead on the Pelipper's silhouette, backlit against the sun. The Pelipper caws shrilly, perhaps back at Lapras, announcing its name.

For a while, that's all of the action they get. Red pulls Blue's letter out of his bag and re-reads it for something to do. The stationary is well-creased by now.

Dear Pen Pal,

I'm not sure where to start, but, well, the pen pal agency or whatever didn't tell me your name, so maybe that's where you should start in your reply. The only information they gave me about you was the address to send the letter to, and I must admit, I did do some searching on the internet. You live at Dewford Hall in Dewford Town? I'm not judging, but isn't that like some fan club building or something? You can live at fan clubs?

What's Hoenn like? Red stops to run his thumb over the line of eerily straight letters, then looks up around him at the lazy ocean and the craggy rocks jutting out of the water. What is it like? he wonders, What would be a summary that would stick true to the nature of this place?

I've never been, Blue's letter continues, I'm stuck in the Galar region right now while I finish my doctorate, and the schoolwork, though necessary, is deadening. I am desperate for a distraction, which I suppose is why I'm writing you. That and I'm apparently very open to any suggestions that my friend, Yellow, makes.

If you're some psychopath or an idiot, don't bother replying. I'll live.

P.S. My name's Blue.

Sincerely,

Blue Oak

Red smirks at the ending all over again and shakes his head. He sits with the letter in his hand for a while, then folds it back up, and returns it to its envelope, and places it in his bag.

Eventually, Pikachu jumps up and steals Red's hat, which is his way of asking for attention. Red stands up carefully and pats Lapras on the neck for her to stop. He takes his bag off and sets it down on her shell, then stoops and quickly yanks his hat off Pikachu's head, who sparks his cheeks at him indignantly. Triumphant, Red grins and sets his hat aside, making sure to stand between it and Pikachu. He strips and changes into the swim trunks he has in his bag, then he jumps off into the water with a wordless yell.

The cool rush happens all at once. The salt floods his mouth and stings his eyes. He surfaces with a violent shake of his head, whipping the excess water off. He spits out his mouthful of the Hoenn ocean and runs a hand through his soaked hair, slicking it back out of his eyes. He waves to Pikachu who, with a squeal, jumps into the water after him, belly flops, and then doggy paddles methodically to keep his head above the water. Red grins, and Pikachu smiles back.