"it's a protected site, duh dude. it's supposed to look the same. forever. unless it burns down."

the steady beat of an aged drumskin can be heard in the distance. as leaves eddy around their feet like golden spirits, noah shivers too. he's grown accustomed to the hoenn climate— and is startled at his heightened sensitivity.

noah swings behind kyle as they walk. sensing that kyle would be cold too, noah's hands find kyle's arms to rub them vigorously. he rests his head on the other's shoulder. curious eyes train themselves on the bell as noah tries to snatch it out of kyle's hand.

"did anything happen?" noah asks. "when you rang it. you know, i could use a bell like this to order you around. like calling for a butler."

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

noah feigns fumbling with the bell— but is dextrous enough to keep play from devolving into ruin. it rings lightly against his palm. as kyle recounts his story, noah returns the bell to him lest it summons ill will.

"sounds wild, man." noah says. "glad you're obviously okay."

kyle's reversal is quickly swatted away by noah's nonchalant confidence. he straightens his back. posture is perfected momentarily. a stiff tower before burning into his usual lackadaisy as he says, "sure. if you're buying the clothes."

they reach the tower. a worker sees people in from their booth. shoes are off, placed in plastic bags and then cubbies.

"well, if you collapse again this time," noah speaks smugly, "i'll be sure to catch you."

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

"guess i'm fucking cursed." noah shrugs alongside a sigh, his arms raising as his breath leaves him. "i can't believe you did this to me."

the woody scent of the tower is pleasant. almost herbal or fiery. it's hard to place.

"aight." noah shoots back quickly as he ascends the stairs first.

occasionally, the stairs would creak, the sound a warm echo of some consecrated past. noah pauses. with one foot on a higher plane than the other, he poses awkwardly in the midst of transition.

"i think the curse is getting to me already. you might have to carry me all the way up with your strong arms, oh noooo." noah says.

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

"i'm gonna ring the fuck out of that bell. there's like, no reason being here if we don't, y'know?"

noah begins climbing the stairs. the staircase is surprisingly steep— and even to noah, who has navigated these kinds of stairs before, it comes as a surprise. he grasps the railing when he can and allows his hand to linger and lag as if to lessen the gap between them.

eventually, they reach a floor. effigies of ho-oh surround a fenced pillar that sways slow. the sun shines through, soaking the wood with rays and heat. the warm aroma settles with each intake of breath while greeting the tired soles of their feet.

noah pulls out his phone. its camera is quick to flash, the simulated sound of a shutter announcing the thievery of kyle's image. "alright, so here's the plan. when we get to the top, we can enjoy the view. do some kissing. take some pics for your social media, yada yada yada. then we ring the bell. sound good, man?"

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

the kiss comes suddenly like a renegrade wave crashing onto shore. surprise ebbs into warm complacement- but it is altogether too quick. too fleeting. noah, too used to being the one to initiate in public, is left burning.

noah laughs the cinders away, his voice curling at its end, "okay, kyle. bit early in the schedule, but i'll take it." he pockets his phone.

enticed by the chime, noah takes the bell. he moves in close and kisses the other's cheek before swiveling to press his back against the other's chest.

"now that i think of it, the bell's kinda freaky." noah frowns as he rings it. "you really remember like, nothing, yeah? did you feel any different? coulda had a concussion if you fell hard."

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov

"you ever worried that something like that would happen again?"

slateport smoke falls from a small frown. the bell rings faintly through the fog of his sigh.

"actually, forget about that." noah turns to face kyle once more, firm arms draping over his shoulders lazily. his hands cross loosely behind the other's neck.

the bell dangles carefully between a pinch.

"we're on vacation. and 'sides," noah leans in to kiss him, "if you're ever overworked, you got me now to destress."

kyle lopez / vacation mission nov